Apparatus to record images of moving subjects



Feb. 26, 1952 M. J. WEISFELDT A APPARATUS TO RECORD IMAGES OF MOVINGSUBJECTS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 5,

IIIIIIVIIIII:IIIIIIIIII FIG. 3

INVENTOR.

MAX J. WEISFELDT Feb. 26, 1952 J w s T 2,587,018

APPARATUS T0 RECORD IMAGES OF MOVING SUBJECTS Filed March 5, 1946 4Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

MAX J. WEISFELDT Feb. 26, 1952 WEISFELDT 2,587,018

APPARATUS TO RECORD IMAGES OF MOVING SUBJECTS Filed March 5, 1946 4Sheets-Sheet 5 I63 FIG. 7 11a m me o m I; 0 m

a o m 169 I115 m /7 I 143 I75 166 ms 0 O I 0 G I37 139 was I65 I34 1/] II o o m ",5 o Q9 we "8 lfll I63 INVENTOR. MAX J. WEISFELDT 'Feb. 26,1952 wElSFELDT 2,587,018

APPARATUS TO RECORD IMAGES OF MOVING SUBJECTS Filed March 5, 1946 4Sheets-Sheet 4 um I: an n nu nu nu an M I n us 3 :38 am as I 22 231 249247 as 245 24! a; as: 259

259 z|sas INVENTOR.

MAX J. WEISFELDT Patented Feb. 26, 1952 UNITED STATES NT FFICE APPARATUSTO RECORD IMAGES OF MOVING SUBJECTS 9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in image recording apparatus andthe like.

In recording images of moving subjects, an image recording device (suchas a motion picture camera) must frequently be oriented, simultaneously,in azimuth about a substantially vertical axis, and in elevation about asubstantially horizontal axis. At the same time other adjustments mustbe made, such as the focusing of the camera lens relative to thedistance between the device and the subject. In addition, if images ofthe subject are to be recorded as said subject moves along a relativelylong path, it may be necessary -to use a plurality of such recordingdevices, thereby resulting in a like augmentation of personnel tooperate said devices.

The present invention provides means whereby a plurality of recordingdevices, sufficient to suitably cover all portions of a long coursefollowed by a subject, may be operated, with a limited amount ofpersonnel, from a single control station (which will be referred tohereinafter as a master station). This is accomplished by providing aplurality of subsidiary stations (slave stations) each of which isequipped with one or more image recording devices, the operations ofwhich are automatically controlled from the ma..- ter station. Themaster station includes a suitable tracking means and may or may notinclude an image recording device as well. The

master station is located at a point from which the entire course can becovered, either visually or by other suitable detection means, and theslave stations are at locations suitable for covering particularportions of said course.

The master station is coupled to the slave stations by suitable remotecontrol means in such a way that, when detecting or sighting means atthe master station are directed at a subject located at a particularpoint on a course along which the subject is moving, image recordingdevices located at one or several slave stations covering said pointwill also automatically be directed at the same point. Thus, as asubject moving along its course is continuously tracked from the masterstation, it will also simultaneously be tracked continuously orsuccessively from one or more of the slave stations.

One situation where such apparatus may have particular usefulness is inconnection with the Although, in the present specificalimited thereto,but has far more extensive and broader applications.

In taking motion pictures of a horse race, it is usual for severalphotographers to position themselves in or on top of the grandstand andalso at several other vantage points about the course. Results are farfrom satisfactory however for many reasons, such as the fact that someportions of the course are at too great a distance from each camera,there is a great difference in the distances from the camera to thefarthest and to the nearest points of the course, and the cameramansview is often interfered with by spectators and others and bystructures, such as parts of the grandstand.

The cameraman, in order to follow the horses throughout the race mustusually swing the camera about in such a way as to combine bothazimuthal and elevational motions, which at times is rather awkward. Asthe distance between the camera and the horses varies greatly throughoutthe progress of a race, it becomes important for clear images toproperly vary the focus of the camera lens as a race progresses.

Frequently there have been charges of foul play against jockeys but ithas been difficult, if not impossible, to prove or disprove such chargesby motion pictures taken in the past or by any other conventional means.The present invention provides improved means for overcoming thedifiiculties aforementioned, as well as others.

In applying my invention to the taking of motion pictures of a horserace, one or more master stations may be positioned in towers preferablylocated in the central field of the race course. Although the masterstation may be positioned at a point high up in the grandstand wherefair visibility of the entire course may be possible, that is not thebest procedure. By using a centrally located tower, unobstructedvisibility is assured and the pictures are preferably taken at a moresatisfactory elevational angle.

In addition, a plurality of slave stations are judiciously positionedcloser to the course to more suitably cover particular portions thereof.The

slave stations are best located along the outer periphery of the coursealthough some or all of 7 them may be positioned along the innerperiphery thereof.

As the moving horses need only be tracked from the master station tocause automatic tracking from the slave stations, an entire race can besatisfactorily photographed with a limited number of operators and eachpart of the course is so well covered by one or more cameras that everydetail of the race will be clearly photographed for discerning andevidencing fouls, for newsreel purposes, etc. In addition, fouls willprobably disappear when jockeys know that, throughout a race, they arebeing photographed by a plurality of strategically located cameras.

In so far as the master station is concerned, the camera or sightingmeans may be oriented in azimuth either manually or automatically. Ineither case elevational orientation will be automatic. Althoughinstallations similar to the manually operated master installations maybe used at the slave stations, they will preferably be completelyautomatized in all cases. In the first two forms of my invention shownherein (Figure -7 and 11-12), the operator need only swing the camera soas to orient it in azimuth while the elevational orientation thereof andthe focusing of the lens are accomplished automatically. In.

the third form of my invention (Figures 13-15) hereinafter described,the orientation in azimuth also is accomplished automatically.

The master installation may include tracking means only or may alsoincorporate a motion picture camera provided with suitable telephotolens. The apparatus of the master station is preferably coupled to theslave stations by suitable gear trains and synchronous motors so that,as the sighting means of the master station are swung in azimuth tofollow the horses about the course, the cameras at the several slavestations will also be swung in azimuth, but in such predeterminedrelationship that one or more of said slave cameras will also follow thehorses.

The present invention may be used in various applications and may wellbe used for military purposes. For example, it might be used for gundirecting. Assume a narrow ship channel at the entrance to a harbor orgoing up a river. A master station might be located on a hilltop wherethe entire length of the channel would be visible or could be covered bysuitable detecting means. A plurality of slave stations, each of whichwould include one or more guns, would be located at various points alongthe channel and within firing range of it. As a ship progressed alongthe channel, the master installation would track it continuously,thereby keeping the various slave installations suitably oriented so asto direct the several guns, located respectively at said stations, sothat as the ship came successively into their range they would beautomatically aimed at it and could be fired either remotely or locally.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide means forfacilitating the recording (by the use of motion picture, television orother means) of the entire action of some event involving movingsubjects, such as a horse race, auto race, athletic contest, parade,etc.

Another object is to provide means by which fouls or other improper orunfair tactics by contestants may be readily detected and evidenced.

Another object is to provide an apparatus whereby moving subjects may bekept clearly in view of a recording device at all times withoutinterference by any objects or persons.

Still another object of this invention is tov provide means forautomatically sighting a recording device so as to keep it aimed at amoving subject at all times.

Another feature of this invention is to provide a mechanism whichautomatically adjusts the focus of a recording device in-accordance'withvariations in the distance between said device and a subject.

Another object is to provide means whereby a continuous reproduction ofimages of an event, involving moving subjects, may be had.

Yet another object is to accomplish the foregoing either entirely orpartly by automatic means so as to require the services of fewer, or ofless experienced, operators than would otherwise be needed.

Another object is to automatize some of the steps necessary to recordingimages of moving subjects so as to reduce the operations required of theoperator and thereby reduce the possibility of poor results due to thehuman element.

Still another object is to provide means whereby a slave device may becaused automatically to track a moving subject simultaneously with thetracking of said subject by a master device.

Another object is to provide means whereby a moving subject may beautomatically tracked from a plurality of slave stations while it is being tracked from a master station.

Yet another object is to provide means for transforming rotationalmotion into nonsynchronous rotational motion having a predeter-;

mined relationship thereto.

parent from the following description of preferred embodiments of theinvention, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a horse race coursewherein are shown one centrally located master station and eight slavestations spaced about the outside of the course;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of Figure 1 taken along the line2-2 thereof;

Figure 3 is a composite view of two superimposed enlarged verticalsections taken along the lines 3a3a and 312-321 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a plan view of a modified form 0 the present inventionwherein three installations are shown inside the race course, at leastone of which is a master device, and a plurality of slave installationsoutside the course;

Figure 5 is an enlarged elevational view, partly cut away and partlysectioned, of a motion picture camera installation located at the masterstation of Figure 1, wherein azimuthal orientation is accomplishedmanually;

Figure 6 is a plan view of Figure 5, the camera I being shown inphantom;

Figure '7 is a horizontal sectional view of the gear box of Figure 5,taken along the line 'l! of said figure;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary, vertically sectioned view, similar to Figure5, of the illustration located at each of the slave stations of Figure1;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary elevational view, taken from the left ofFigure 5, showing a modified structure wherein two cameras may be usedto cover a wider horizontal scope;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary plan view of the camera brackets of Figure 9,the cameras being removed;

Figure 11 is a plan view of a second form,

tation of the camera (when located at the master answers-- 5, station),including: orientation in azimuth, is completely automatic;

Figure 14 is a diagrammatic representation of an electrical circuit ofthe embodiment shown in Figure 13; and

Figure 15 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the pin andchannel of the rota.- tion adjustment mechanism of the device of Figure13, taken along the line I5-I5 thereof.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figures 1-4, there isshown a typical horse race course 2! which has the configuration of a.straight-sided oval and is delimited by an inner rail 23 and an outerrail 25. Horses and jockeys on the course 2I are. designated by thenumeral 2%. The inner rail 23 encloses a central field 21. The course 2Ihas been marked off with sixteen positions I-I 3 which are spacedsubstantially equally about the said course.

As shown in Figures 1-3. a tower 29 is positioned at the central pointof the central field 21. Said tower 28 should be as steady as possibleand preferably quite tall and constructed of strong but narrow materialswhich will offer a minimum of windage and which will not interfere withthe spectators view from a grandstand 3i- The tower 29 (Figure 3) mayinclude a central mast 33 sustained by guys 35 and topped by acrows-nest 3?, above which is sustained a canopy 39 to protect theoperator and equipment. The crows-nest 3? houses a camera orientatingapparatus 4| and at least one motion picture camera 43. The canopy 39may be a permanent structure, but is preferably a removable,collapsible, lightweight, umbrella-like affair.

Where there is but a single central tower 29 (as in Figures 1-3) thecamera orientating apparatus GI will be a master installation, alreadyreferred to and more fully explained hereinafter. However, particularlyat a large race course it may be advantageous to locate several towersv29, 28a, 2912 (three being shown in Figure 4) in the central field 21.Then, one or more of said towers 29, 29a, 292) will be a master station.Located at suitable points about the course 2! are a plurality (Figures1 and 4 show eight) of subsidiary towers 44, preferably of a smallerheight, which will house slave installationsv One form of cameraorienting apparatus l I, adapted for a master station (and, withmodifications, for a slave station), is shown in Figures 5-7. As thereshown, said apparatus lI includes a pedestal 55 which is secured to thefloor 41 of the crows-nest 3?.

The top of said pedestal 45 is provided with a diametrically positionedtransverse slot, 49 and a downwardly extending axial bore 5-I. tionedupon said pedestal 45 is a base 53 which is provided at its lower endwith a transverse extension 55 positionable into. the slot 39, and adownwardly extending axial leg 51 positionable into the axial bore 5|.Said extension 55 and leg 51 cooperate to give the base 53 stability, toprevent it from rotating and also to facilitate the returning of thebase 53 to its proper position in the event of its removal.

Securely fastened to the base 53 is a guide support which consists of ahorizontally disposed circular plate 61 bordered circumferentially by achannel 69. An elevation guide I3 and a lens focusing guide 15 aresecured in the said channel 69. The elevation guide '13 is made of metaland its outer edge forms an elevation cam surface I1 so shaped as tovary the elevation of the camera 43 as it is revolved in azimuth. Thelens focusing guide '15.- is also made of metal and its outer edge formsa focusing cam surface I9 adapted to actuate the lens; focusingmechanism as the camera is revolved.

The base 53 continues upward above the plate 51', but is of reduceddiameter and at its upper extremity it is provided with an axiallydisposed miniature scale, as the race course 2I.

socket.- 59- receivable to a central stock SI of an umbrella-like canopy39. E-ncircling the base above the plate 67', and rotatably securedthereto by suitable bearings (not shown), is a collar BI, to the lowerend of which is securely fastened an annular spur gear 83. A handle 8.5,extends outwardly radially from one side of the collar 31 and said.collar is provided with two oppositely disposed radially extendinggudgeons 8:1 positioned at right angles to said handle 85.

Rotatably mounted upon the gudgeons 8'! is a yoke 39.. Integral withsaid yoke 89 and extending outwardly from it, is a camera bracket 9!.Secured to the lower surface. of the camera bracket 3| and extendingdownwardly and inwardly therefrom are a pair of bosses 93 between whichis rotatably secured a cam follower roller which is positioned tocooperate with the elevation cam surface '17. The camera bracket 9|isprovided with any suitable means to removably secure a camera 43.thereto, such as wing nuts 91. The lens focusing mechanism consists of afocusing bar 99 rotatably positioned upon a horizontal stud IBI which isattached to the outer end: of an arm I93, which is mounted on one sideof the camera bracket 91' where it will not interfere with the camera43. A sector pinion I05 is attached to and rotatable with the focusingbar 93; Said sector pinion I95 is in operative engage-'- ment. with a:rack IIl 'Iz' attached to the lower surface of the camera lens tube I09.The lower portion of the: bar 99 is of cylindrical configuration andupon it there is slidably mounted a circumferentially slotted camfollower wheel III. The lower end of the bar 99 is urged inwardlybyaazspring' H3, so that the slotted cam follower wheel Ill ismaintained in engagement with the focusing cam surface '19 of the lensfocusing guide. 15.

R-otatable about the base 53, above the collar BI, is a relatively heavyflywheel II'5 which is preferably suitably internally geared so as to beset into relatively rapid rotation when actuated by an upwardlyextending finger III attached tothe handle 85'.

For convenience in operation, the camera 43 may be provided with anelongated, backwardly extending view finder I I3 of any suitable type.

Below the floor 1! of the crows-nest 31 there is sustained a cylindricalgear box I23, which is madeup of" the cylindrical wall IZI and thecircular bottom plate I22. The gear box I23 is fitted with upper andlower horizontally'disposed cam plates I 3|, I33 which are out through,respectively, by upper and lower oval-shaped cam slots I35, I33, inregister with each other, which have the same geometrical contour, buton a Said cam plates I3I, I33 are fastened circumferentially to theinterior of the cylindrical wall I2l and arealso sustained by a numberof feet I31 secured to the floor 41 and the bottom plate I22.

The camera orienting apparatus 4 I, already described, which ispositioned above the floor 41, is coupled to said gear box I23 justdescribed by means of a vertically disposed driver shaft I25, whichextends through bearings in the circular plate 31 and the upper camplate I3I Said driver shaft I25 terminates at its upper end in aspurtype coupling gear I29 in engagement with the annular spur gear 83mentioned above, and is provided at its lower end, and just below theplate I3I, with a horizontally disposed, elongated, longitudinallyslotted, upper driver finger I39 which extends radially from said shaft.The said driver shaft I25 is coaxial with the cylindrical gear box I23.

A short auxiliary driver shaft I55 is positioned below the driver shaftI25 and coaxial with it and is rotatable in bearings in the bottom plateI22 and the lower cam plate I33. The upper extremity of said auxiliarydriver shaft I55, just above the plate I33, is provided with a lowerdriver finger I51 which is a duplicate of the upper driver finger I39already described and, as will be hereinafter seen, said fingers I39,I51 always move together so as to be mutually parallel under allconditions of operation.

The main and auxiliary driver shafts I25, I55 are geared together forsynchronous rotation by a gear train which will now be described.Rigidly secured to the driver shaft I25 between the floor 41 and theupper cam plate I3I is a relatively large spur-type driver shaft gearI4I. An upper intermediate spur gear I49 of a smaller diameter,

which is in mesh with the gear MI, is also disposed between the floor 41and the upper cam plate I3I.

A rotatable transfer shaft I43 extends completely vertically through thegear box I23 at one side thereof and rigidly secured to its upper andlower ends respectively, for rotation with it, are identical relativelysmall upper and lower spurtype transfer gears I45, I41. The uppertransfer gear I45, which is positioned between the floor 41 and theupper cam plate I3I, is in mesh with the upper intermediate spur gearI49 already referred to. The lower transfer gear I41 is positionedbetween the lower cam plate I33 and the bottom plate I22 and is in meshwith a lower intermediate spur gear I5I which is a duplicate of the gearI49. Said gear I5I is in turn in mesh with an auxiliary spur gear I53 (aduplicate of the gear I4I aforesaid) which is rigidly secured to theauxiliary driver shaft I55 between the plates I33 and I22.

An elongated cylindrical cam follower rod I59 is disposed verticallywithin the gear box I23. Said rod I59 is provided at successive pointsalong its length with a plurality (twelve being shown in Figure 5) ofcircumferential grooves. The upper and lower ends of said rod I59 extendrespectively through the upper and lower cam slots I35, I36 and theupper and lower cam plates I3I, I33 extend slidably respectively intothe uppermost and lowermost grooves in said cam follower rod I59, sothat said rod is adapted to be translated laterally to follow theoval-shaped contour of said cam slots.

The slotted upper driver finger I39 is coupled ;o'the cam follower rodI59 just below the upper :am plate I3I. Said rod I59 extends through the;lot in said finger I39 and said finger extends into:

me of the circumferential grooves in said rod, 2hereby allowing the rodI59 to slide horizontally ilong the length of the finger I39. The loweririver finger I51 is similarly coupled to the cam follower rod I59 justabove the lower cam plate I33.

It will be seen that rotation of the driver shaft I25 will causesynchronous rotation of the auxliary driver shaft I55 by means of thegear train :omprising the gears I4I, I49, I45, I41, I5I and I53 and thetransfer shaft I43. Upon such ends of said rod I59 are respectivelyimprisoned in the cam slots I35, I36, said rod will move along saidslots and will therefore follow the same geometrical pattern as isfollowed, on a larger scale, by a horse 26 running around the racecourse 2I.

Secured to the inner surface of the cylindrical wall I2 I of the gearbox I23, but each at a different level, are a plurality of radiallypositioned brackets I63 (eight being shown in Figures 5 and 7). Eachbracket I63 supports an identical remote control servo unit I65, whichincludes a gear train of three spur gears I66, I61, I68 rigidly securedrespectively to three vertically positioned shafts I69, I1 I, I 13 whichare rotatably sustained by said bracket I63.

The innermost shaft I69 of each servo unit I65 is provided with ahorizontally disposed, flat, elongated remote control arm I15 which islongitudinally slotted and is slidably positioned in one of the groovesof the cam follower rod I59. The middle gear I61 of each servo unit I65is merely an idler gear and the outermost shaft I13 of each such unitI65 is the shaft of a conventional driver servo motor I11 which iselectrically connected, by means of a cable I18, to a companion drivenservo motor I86 (see Figure 8) at one of the slave station subsidiarytowers 44, as will be more specifically described hereinafter. Theinnermost shafts I69 are so positioned that (as shown in Figure 7) theiraxes intersect the cam plates I3I, I 33 at points Which duplicate, inminiature, the actual geographical positions of the subsidiary towers 44which house the slave installations.

It will now be seen that, when the cam follower rod I 59 is caused tomove along the cam slots I35, I36, the eight remote control arms I 15will follow it and thus will be swung about their respective axes ofrotation with resultant rotation of the shafts I69. By means of theseveral gear trains, comprising the gears I66, I61, I68, such rotationwill cause rotation of the respective shafts I13 of the several driverservo motors I11, which rotation will be remotely transmitted to therespective driven servo motors I located at the several slave stationsin the subsidiary towers 44.

As each slave installation at one of the subsidiary towers 44 will onlyphotograph the horses 26 as they pass along part of the course 2|, thefilm transport mechanism of its camera 43 need only operate during suchtime. Hence, any suitable switching means (not shown) for starting thefilm transport mechanism as the horses 26 enter the portion of thecourse 2| covered by said slave camera and for stopping said filmtransport mechanism as the horses leave said portion should be provided.Such means for each slave installation will preferably be located at theslave station by such means for all of the slave stations may be locatedat the master station to be actuated as the master sighting means isswung in azimuth to track horses about the course 2 I.

The apparatus shown in Figures 5-7 may be modified to include means foroperating a plurality of cameras 43 as indicated in Figures 9 and 10. Asthere shown, the apparatus is provided with two camera brackets 9 la,9Ib each of which is separately rotatably sustained by one of thegudgeons 81. Each of said camera brackets 9Ia, 9Ib is separatelyequipped with a cam follower roller as already described and a lensfocusing mechanism similar to that already described and shown inFigures and 6.

A modified form of the present invention is shown in Figures 11-12. Itis similar to the form of Figures 5-7 except as to the mechanisms foreffectuating elevation adjustment and lens focusing. In this modifiedembodiment, the elevation guide is made up of a flange I9I extendingupwardly from the periphery of a horizontal plate I83 which hassubstantially the same oval shape, but on a miniature scale,fas the racecourse 2 I.

The collar 8|, handle 95 and gudgeons 91 are similar to those alreadydescribed in connection with Figures 5-7. The gudgeons 81 rotatablysustain a yoke I85, to which is secured an elongated elevation shaft I81which is square in cross sec- 'tion. Slidably mounted upon said shaftI91 is a casing I 89 which sustains a camera bracket I9I. Encir'clingthe casing I89 is a freely rotatable circumferentially slotted camfollower wheel I93.

The lens mechanism of the modification shown in Figures 11-12 consists'of a flexible cable I95 which terminates at its ends respectively inupper and'lower pinions I91, I99. The lower pinion I99 is sustained atthe outer end of an arm ZIJI extending from the camera bracket I9I andthe upper pinion I91 is sustained by a second arm 203 which is'adjustably fastened to the arm 29I by means of a wing nut 205.

The lower pinion I99 is in mesh with a rack 201 set into the uppersurface of the shaft I81. The upper pinion I91 is in mesh with a rackI01, which is attached to the lower surface of the lens tube A thirdform of the present invention (Figures I 13-15) may utilize theelevation and lens focusing mechanism of either of the forms alreadydescribed (Figures 5-7 and 11-12) or any other suitable mechanisms toaccomplish the same purposes. This third form, however, differs from theothers in that orientation in azimuth is accomplished automaticallyrather than manually.

Said third form of the present invention includes a pedestal 45 whichsustains a base 299 provided with an upwardly extending base shaft 2I I.Rigidly sustained upon the base is a platelike horizontally disposedguide support 213. Disposed in a circle about said support2I3 andequidistant from the axis of the base shaft 2II are a plurality (sixteenbeing used in the illustrated embodiment) of upwardly extending pins 2 I5 which are spaced about said support 2 I 3 in a predetermined manner,so that each pin 215 is associated with a particular position 1-16located about the race course 2|, as will become apparent F hereinbelow.

The base shaft 2 I 'I terminates at its upper end in a socket 59receivable to the stock 6| of a canopy 39. Above the guide support 2I3and r0- tatable about the base shaft 2 is a tubular housing 2 I 9 whichhas fastened to its upper end a flat annular friction plate 22I.Attached to the lower end of the said housing 2I9 is a coaxiallydisposedannular worm wheel 223, which is actuated by a worm 225 rotatedby an electric motor 221 sustained by the guide support 2I3.

Resting frictionally upon the friction plate 22I is a cam plate 229. Forthe average race course 2| such as shownherein, the configuration ofsaid cam plate 229 will probably be somewhat similar to that shown inFigure 14, where it is made up of two lobes of substantially equal sizeand shape. The'configur'ation of said cam plate 229 will be furtherreferred to hereinafter in connection with the operation of the presentdevice.

Rigidly'secured to the upper'surface of the cam plate 229 and extendingupwardly therefrom is a collar 23L The said cam plate 229 and collar 23Iare rotatable as a unit about the base shaft 2II. Extending radiallyfrom one side of said collar 23I is an arm 233 receivable to a handle(not shown) which may be attached only in the event that manualoperation of the device is desired.

A camera bracket 9|, variable in elevation. is attached to the collar23I in a manner similar to that shown and described in in connectionwith Figures 5-7 above.

annular spur gear 83 is secured coaxially to the collar 231 above thecam plate 229 and is adapted, either directly or through a suitableintermediate gear 239 or gears, to rotate a spurty'pe coupling gear I29,attached to the upper end of a driver shaft I25 which extends down intoa gear box I23 ("as shown in Figures 5 and 7).

Fastened to the lower surface of the cam plate 229, to one side where itprojects beyond the circumference of the friction plate 22I, is anelectric correction motor 231 to which is attached a short correctionshaft 239. Extending helically around said correction shaft 239, are twoflanges 24I which define a channel 243 (Figure 15). The said flanges24'I are spaced a greater distance apart at one end than at the other.The operation of the correction shaft 239 is controlled by a suitableswitch mechanism and circuit (not shown) which causes said shaft to makea single revolution in the direction indicated by the arrow A (Figures13 and 15) each time the electrical circuit is closed.

Mounted upon one side of the guide support 2 I 3 is a vertical bushing245. Rotatably mounted through said bushing 245 is a shaft 241, to theupper end of which is attached a rheostat adjusting arm 249. Fastened tothe end of said arm 249, and in operative engagement with the pei'iphery to the cam plate 229, is a cam follower roller 251. The lowerend of the shaft 241 is fastened to the contact arm 253 of a rheostat255 which is located within the control box 251.

This third form (Figures 13-15) of the present invention may also have aflywheel II5 to assure smoothness of movement.

Electrical connections for the present modification may be by anysuitable means, such as indicated by slip rings 259 extending about thehousing 2I9 and spring contacts 26I. The electrical circuit (Figure 14)for the motor 221 in= cludes two rheostats 255, 263, a remote controlswitch 261 and a manual control switch 269, said latter switch beingnormally left in its closed position. V

To use this third form (Figures 13-15) of the present invention at therace course 2I shownin Figure 1, there would be sixteen of the pins 2I5.At each of the sixteen positions 1-16 located about the race course 2Iitself, there would be a suitable electrical contact means (not shown).Such contact means would preferably be a photoelectric cell (not shown),the beam of which would be cut by the horses 25 a'sthey passed by thatparticular position l-16 on the course 2I so as to close the electricalcircuit. Said electrical contact means might of course be merely acontact button pressed by an operator. When such contact means isactuated, the electrical'circ'uit is closed so as to cause the shaft 239to make its single revomtion, as described above.

The three forms (Figures 5-7, l1-12and 13-15) of my invention, asalready described, may be used in a master installation. When so used,each form includes the gear box I23 (Figures and 7) or some substitutetherefor.

Either of the forms shown in Figures 5-7 or II-I2 may be used at each ofthe slave stations located at the several subsidiary towers 44, exceptthat the gear box I23 is then omitted, and the shaft I is connecteddirectly to I80 (Figure 8). Said follower servomotor I80 is electricallyconnected to that leader servomotor I11, in the J gear box I23 at themaster station, which 1s located in the position similar to thegeographical position of subsidiary. tower 44 housing said slaveinstallation. Thus, the azimuthal positions of the shafts I69 of theseveral servo units I65 located in the gear box I23 at the masterstation are transmitted, respectively, to the cameras 43 of the severalslave stations. Of course, conventional auxiliary power booster means(not shown) may be interposed at each slave station to providesufiicient power to operate said slave installation if the servo systemalone does not provide it.

In connection with all of the forms of my invention described above, itis advisable that suitable markers 21I be placed at a plurality ofpoints along the race course 2 I. These markers 21I may be wooden signsattached to both sides of the inner rail 23 which signs are marked withletters or numbers and should be so positioned that they will bephotographed by the cameras 43 in both the master tower 29 and thoseslave towers 44 which cover that portion of the track. The purposes ofthese markers 21I will be made clear hereinafter.

The operation of the first form of my invention (Figures 5-7) is asfollows:

The camera 43 is loaded with film and attached to the camera bracket 9 Iso that the sector pinion I05 is in mesh with the rack I01 on the cameralens tube I09.

When the horse race starts, the operator need only flip a switch (notshown) to start the operation of the film transport mechanism of themaster camera 43 and then follow the horses 26 in azimuth around thecourse 2I by tracking them through the view finder H9 and rotating thecamera 43 in azimuth by means of the handle 85. The flywheel II5 acts asa damper and keep the camera 43 from making any jerky or suddenmovements.

As the camera 43 is swung in azimuth, the cam follower roller 95 rollsalong on the elevation cam surface 11 thereby varying the angle ofelevation of the camera. The shape of said cam surface 11 ispredetermined so as to give the camera 43 the proper elevation to sightit at the part of the course 2I at whichit is directed by its positionin azimuth. Thus the camera 43 will have a relatively high elevationalposition when the horses 26 are at distant parts of the course 2I (as atthe ends thereof) and a relatively low elevational position when theyreach parts of the course 2| closer to the master tower 29 (as at thesides). This is clearly shown in Figure 3.

Likewise, as the camera 43 is revolved in azimuth, its lens tube I09will be moved in and out by means of the len focusing mechanism. Thepredetermined shape of the focusing cam surface 19 is then such as tocause the lens to be moved to its proper longitudinal position for bestfocus for the distance between camera 43 and horses 26 at each positionof azimuth. As the camera 43 is swung about, the cam follower wheel IIIfollows the shape of the focusing cam surface 19.

This obtains despite vertical movements of the focusing bar 99 resultingfrom the undulations of the elevation cam surface 11, as the camfollower wheel I I I is free to slide longitudinally along said bar 99.The cam follower wheel III is kept in contact with the focusing camsurface 19 by means of the spring I I3. As the bar 99 rotates about thestud IBI, the sector pinion I05 rotates with it and actuates the rackI01 so as to cause the lens tube I09 to move longitudinally to itsposition of proper focus.

As the camera 43 is oriented in azimuth by means of the handle 85, theannular gear 83 rotates the coupling gear I29 and the driver shaft I25.A already explained above, as said shaft I25 is rotated, the upper andlower driver fingers I39, I51 swing in azimuth and cause the camfollower rod I59 to slide alon the cam slots I 35, I36. As the drivershaft I25 is geared directly to the collar (H, at any particular instantof operation, the upper and lower fingers I39, I51 will intersect thecam slots I35, I36 at a point analogous to the point along the actualrace course 2I which will be intersected by the axis of the camera lens.

Thus as the camera 43 is revolved in azimuth to track horses 26 runningaround the course 2I, the

.cam follower rod I59 will move along the cam slots I35, I36, tosimulate said horses. As the cam follower rod I59 moves along the camslots I35, I36 the several remote control arms I15, being individuallyslidably and rotationally coupled thereto, will be swung around with it,so that the axis of each of said arms I15 will also intersect the camslots I35, I36 at the same point where it is intersectedby the fingersI39, I51, namely at the said rod I59.

As the cameras 43 at the slave stations at the several subsidiary towers44 will be oriented in azimuth respectively in synchronism with theazimuthal positions of the servomotors H1 located in the gear box I23,said cameras 43 will likewise be directed at the horses 26 running aboutthe course 2 I Thus, it is seen that, as the camera 43 in the masterstation (in tower 29) tracks the horses 26 moving about the course 2 I,the cameras 43 in the several slave stations (in towers 44) willlikewise at all times be caused to track said horses.

It will be understood that, at the master station the film transportmechanism of the camera 43 may be controlled by the operator. However,at the slave stations, any suitable electrical switching means (notshown) may be incorporated into I the apparatus already described sothat the film transport mechanisms of the cameras 43 located at saidslave stations will operate only during the time that the horses arepassing through the sectors of the course 2I covered respectively bysaid slave cameras. Such switching may be accomplished by usingconventional apparatu and is not specifically a part of the presentinvention. In the event that but one master tower 29 is used to cover arace course 2I, the camera 43 therein will be revolvable through theentire 360 azimuth circle. Should it be deemed advisable, however, at aparticular race course 2I, to use several master stations located, forinstance, in separate towers 29, 29a, 29b in the central field 21(Figure 4), then each of the cameras 43 in such towers will be used tocover the action only in certain limited sectors of the course 2I and tocontrol only those slave stations also covering such sectors.

For example, should a race on the course 2! 13 shown in Figure 4, be runin a counterclockwise direction, from position 6 to the finish line atposition 1, the camera 43 in the tower 29b to the right would follow thehorses 23 from the start at position 6 until they had gotten beyondposition '7. During this interval the slave station located in thesubsidiary tower 44, proximate to position 6 would also follow thehorses 26 under the guidance of said master station in tower 2%.

Just before the horses 26 reached position '7, the master station in themiddle tower. 29 would have picked up the horses 26 and would then trackthem until they had passed beyond position 9. During this time, theslave station located near position 8, under the guidance of said masterstation, would also have followed the horses 26.

Just before the horses 26 reached position .9, the master station intower 29a to the left (Fi ure 4) would have picked them up and wouldfollow them completely around the left end of the course 2| until theygot beyond position 15. During this time the slave stations in thetowers 44, proximate respectively to positions l0, l2 and 14, would alsohave followed the horses 26 through their respective sectors under theguidance of said master station in tower 29a.

Just before the horses 26 reached position 1-5, the master station intower 29 would again have picked them up and would track them through tothe finish line at position 1, and during this portion of the race, theslave station at tower 44 near position 16, under the guidance of saidmaster station would follow them also.

to utilize the three central towers 29, 28a, 29b and the eightsubsidiary towers 44 (shown in Figure,

4), but to have all of them, except tower 29, operate as slave stations.'Then the master installation in tower 29 would control the slaveinstallations in the tower 29a and 29b as well as in the eightsubsidiary towers 44. Said master station in tower 29 would track theentire course 2|, but the film transport mechanism of the camera 43 ofeach station would only operate while tracking the sectors of the course2| between correction positions '7 and 9 and positions 1 5 and 1. Eachof the remote slave stations in the subsidiary towers 44 would cover itslimited sector of said course 2|, as already described hereinabove, andthe two slave stations in the central towers 29a, 291) would cover,respectively, the opposite ends of the course. Thus the slave station intower 29a would cover the left end of the course 2| from position 9counterclockwise to position and the station in tower 29!) would coverposition 1 through position '7. In such installation, the two slavestations in towers 29a, 2% would be guided respectively by servo uni-tsI65 (not shown) suitably installed in the gearbox I23 (Figures 5, 7).

It will be noted that, in the foregoing illustrations there ispreferably a slight overlapping of coverage of a race at points alongthe course 2| where one camera 43 stops and another starts. This slightduplication may be valuable to show fouls and the like, as the horses 26at these points will be viewed from different perspectives by theseveral cameras 43, but, if a complete motion picture of a race isdesired as for newsreel purposes or the like, this slight duplicationmay be eliminated when the film is cut and spliced for the finalpicture.

Frequently, in a horse race, there is some spread between the fast andslow horses and it may be important, for various reasons, to photographall of the horses in the race. One camera may not conveniently beprovided with a 'sufliciently wide angle lens to take the entire fieldand it may therefore be advisable to use two or even more cameras ineach master and/or slave station. A modification of my invention, usingtwo cameras, is shown (Figures 9 and 10') wherein both the elevationalposition and the focus of the lens of each camera 43 may be separatelyadjusted as indicated, the respective mechanisms for each camera beingsimilar to those shown for one camera in Figures 5 and 6.

In the second form of my invention (Figures 11-12) the upper surface ofthe flange [BI is perfectly level. However, in the operation of saidform, as the operator revolves the camera 43 in azimuth, by means of thehandle 85, the cam follower wheel I93 is caused to slide longitudinallyalong the shaft I81 by the predetermined oval shape of said flange I8I.Thus the elevational position of the cam-era 43 is thereby varied, sothat it is at all times directed at the course 2|.

Also, as the camera 43 is revolved in azimuth and is caused to slideback and forth along the length of the shaft I81, the lower pinion I99caused to rotate by means of the rack 201. Said rotation is communicatedthrough the flexible cable I95 to the upper pinion I9'I which in turn,by means of the rack I91, moves the lens tube I 09 in and out tosuitably focus the camera 43.

Under some circumstances the lens focusing device may be disconnectedas, for instance, where the lens used can be set at infinity to coverall portions of the course 2| to be covered by it.

In the operation of the third form of my invention (Figures 13-15),which is designed only for operation at a master station, the camera 43is oriented so as to track the horses 26 mechanically in azimuth as wellas in elevation, and focusing is also accomplished mechanically. Theparticular embodiment shown in the drawings (Figures 13-15) is designedto utilize the means for orienting in elevation and for adjusting focus,

already described in connection with the first form of my invention(Figures 5-6). Thus the discussion of the operation of said third formof the device will be limited to the orientation in azimuth, that beingthe main feature of said third form of the invention. It will beunderstood that said modification may, of course, be provided with anyother suitable means for or:- enting in elevation and for lens focusing.

The principle of operation of the present form of the invention (Figures18-15) is that the camera 43 is swung in azimuth at a predeterminedangular velocity so as to follow the horses around a particular course2| at a speed which experience and tests will show is the average undernormal conditions. This is effectuated by the motor 221 which is startedat the start of the race by closing switch 25! (switch 259 beingnormally closed). Operation of said motor 227, by means of the worm 225and worm wheel 223 causes rotation of the annular housing 2I9 and thefriction plate 22I secured to the upper end thereof. This likewise causerotation of the cam plate 229 which is in frictional engagement withsaid friction plate 22I, and rotation of the collar 23I which is securedto said carn plate 229, thereby swinging in azimuth the camera bracket9| and the camera 43 positioned thereon.

Thus it is seen that the angular velocity of azimuthal rotation of thecamera 43 is dependent upon the speed of the motor 221. This speed iscontrolled by the rheostats 255, 263. Rheostat 255 is varied by the.rheostat adjusting arm 246 which is swung about the axis of the shaft241 as the cam follower roller 25| follows the noncircular periphery ofthe cam plate 229. The shape of said cam plate 229, as already pointedout above, is predetermined so that it will adjust the speed of themotor 221 by means of the rheostat 255 so the camera 43 will be swung inazimuth to track horses 26 as they would run a normal race about thecourse 2|.

Thus, while the horses 26 run around the ends of the course 2|, theangular velocity of the camera 43 should be relatively low as the horses26 are then at a relatively great distance from the camera. The angularvelocity should be speeded up, however, as the horses run along thesides of the course 2|, as then greater angular velocity is requisite tokeep tracking them.

Also, if tests indicate that the average speed of the horses 26diminishes some throughout the progress of a normal race, this factorshould also be included in determining the shape of thecam plate 229. Itwill be understood that for race courses 2| where races are runutilizing different starting and/ or finish lines, it might be advisableto provide several interchangeable cam plates 229.

When it can be determined before a particular race that it will probablybe run faster or slower than normal (as when the condition of the track,due to weather conditions or other factors, is what is referred to asfast or slow), then a preliminary adjustment of the manually operatedrheostat 263 may be made. Also, said rheostat 263 may be varied duringthe course of a race if the operator finds that it was not adjusted withsufiicient accuracy before the race started.

Now it will be appreciated that, despite pas: experience and tests, theaccurate predetermination of the shape of the cam 229 and the manualadjustments of rheostat 263, the horses 26 may nevertheless not runexactly in the manner for which the apparatus has been set. The errorshould be small but, nevertheless, checks must be made as the raceprogresses and any errors must be corrected. Such correction isaccomplished by means of the motor 231, the sixteen pins 2|5 and theirassociated parts.

Although the course 2| illustrated in the drawings (Figures; and 4) hasbeen shown for convenience to have sixteen correction positions, thisnumber may be more or less, as experience dictates is necessary for aparticular course.

The sixteen pins 2 5 will be so spaced that, when I the camera 43 islocated in azimuth so as to be directed at a particular one of thesixteen correction positions 1-16 about the course 2|, the particularpin 2 5 associated with said particular position will be immediatelybelow the channel 243 about the corrector shaft 239. Thus, if a race isrun exactly as predetermined, when the horses 26 reach any particularone of the correction positions 1-16 about the course 2|, the particularpin 2|5 associated with that position will be directly centered in thechannel 243 when the corrector shaft 239 is rotated, and the apparatuswill continue to operate without correction, just as if the motor 231and pins 2|5 were inoperative.

It will be remembered that, when the horses 26 reach each correctionposition 1-16 along the course 2|, an electrical contact (not shown) isclosed (as by the horses 26 cutting the beam of a photoelectric cell orby any other suitable means) whereupon the shaft 239 is caused to make asingle revolution. Thus, if the camera 43 is correctly oriented inazimuth so as to be directed at one of the correction positions 1-6along the course 2| at the instant that the horses 26 reach that samecorrection position, then, as already stated, the pin 2|5 associatedwith that position will ride freely through the channel 243 as theconnector shaft 239 makes its single revolution, and no correction willoccur.

However, if for one reason or another, as the horses 26 reach one of thecorrection positions 1-16, the camera 43 is either leading or laggingthe horses slightly, when the shaft 239 rotates. one or the other of theflanges 24| will impinge against the pin 2|5 associated with thatposition. As said channel 243 narrows toward one end and the pin 2 5 isimmovable, the said flange 24| and the motor 231 to which it is attachedand the cam plate 229 to which said motor is attached will all bedisplaced slightly. Such displacement will be possible by reason of thefact that the frictional engagement between the said cam plate 229 andthe friction plate 22| will allow relative motion between them.

The foregoing will be better understood if the operation of theapparatus is studied during the progress of a race. If a race is to berun on the course 2| of Figure 1, from correction position 6counterclockwise to correction position 1, the camera 43 in the tower 29is revolved before the race, either manually or by means of the motor221, so as to be sighted at position 6. As the race starts the filmtransport mechanism of the camera 43 is started and the switch 261(Figure 14) is closed to start the motor 221. As already described, theoperation of said motor 221 causes the camera 43 to be rotated inazimuth in a counterclockwise direction about the axis of the base shaft2| The correction motor 231, the correction shaft 239 and the helicalflanges 24| will also swing around said shaft 2| in a counter;-clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrows B (Figures 14 and 15).

If the horses 26 are running at their normal speed, as predetermined,then the angular velocity of the camera 43 is such that, throughout itsrotation in azimuth, it is continuously aimed at the running horses 26.As the horses 26 reach correction position 7, the electrical contact asdescribed above for said position '7 is closed, thereby causing thecorrection shaft 239 to make its single turn about its axis. As saidturn begins the pin 2|5, which is associated with position 7, isimmediately below the correction shaft 239 and intermediate the flanges24| (as shown in Figures 13 and 15) and hence, as said flanges revolveabout the axis of the shaft 239, in the direction of the arrows A(Figures 13 and 15) they pass on opposite sides of the said particularpin 2|5, the pin being at all times midway between them.

The camera 43 continues to swing in azimuth and to follow the horses 26from correction position '7 to position 8, at which time the electricalcontact at position 8 closes causing the correction shaft 239 to againmake a single turn, but at this time said shaft has reached a, pointimmediately above the next succeeding pin 2 l5, which is associated withposition 8, and hence, as said shaft 239 rotates, the flanges 24| passon opposite sides of that pin.

This procedure repeats itself and, as the horses 26 successively passeach of the correction positions 9-16, the shaft 239' makes its singleturn and the flanges 2 pass successively on opposite sides of theparticular pins 215 associated respectively with those particularpositions. When the horses 25 have reach the finish line, the operatoropens the switch 26; so as to stop the swinging of the camera 43 and healso stops the film trans port mechanism within the camera.

During the operation of the master statien in tower 29 as justdescribed, the several slave stations in the several subsidiary towers44' will have been operating just as already described hereinabove inconnection with the device shown in Figures 5-7, except that rotation inazimuth of the several cameras 43 will be accomplished re-' motely. Thatis, the rotational movements of the camera 43 at the master station (seeFigures 5 and '7) will cause nonsynchr-orious' rotation of theseveralservo driver motors I ll, which in turn will induce'synchronous rotationiri the respective driven servomotors mat the several slave stations I80(Figure 8) This will cause rotatioii of the several shafts I25 at saidslave stations and, by means of the gears I25, 83', azimuthal rotationof the Several cameras 4321? said slave" stations.

Now, however; if a race is run which does not conform to theanticiptated average speed, when the horses 26 reach correction position7 311d the e1ectrica1 contact at that pO SitiOl l is made, the axis ofsight of the master camera 43 will be either a little to the left or tothe right of said 5:.

239 makes its single turn, one or the other of the flanges Z4l willstrike against that pin 215 associated with correction position '7. Whenthe narrow portion of the channel 243' reaches the said,

pin 2 !5, the pin will be in its proper place inthe center of saidchannel and the camera 43 will have been forced to s'wing'sli'ghtly inazimuth, in

one direction or the other in relation to the friction plate 22 I, thefrictional engagement between the cam plate 229' and the said frictionplate being loose enough to allow the one to slide over the other. Thus,the camera 43 will then be in its proper position so to be directed'atcorrection position 7 when the horses 26 are at that position.

As the horses 26 then move from correction position 7 to position 8,the'camera 43 will again follow them and at'po'sitio'n 8, the procedurejust described will again occur and the axis of sight of the camera 43in relation to the horses 26 will again be corrected. This same sequencewill be repeated as the horses 26' reach each of the positions 9-16.

The flanges 241 will of course be spaced far enough apart at the wideend of the channel 243 so that they will always pass on opposite sidesof one of the pins 2l5,- whether the camera 43 is leading or' laggingthe horses, and this even though the difference between the actuallocation of the camera 43 and its correct location be the predeterminedmaximum possible error.

It is desirable that a sufiiciently large number of positions 1-16 onthe race course 2| beused in setting up this form (Figures 13-15) of myinvention so that the maximum error at any correction position 1-16 willnever be so great as-to allow the flanges 24! to be rotated withoutcatching the proper pin 2 ['5 between them, or so great that the camera43 will not photograph the horses.- Experience may show that as few as18 are sumc em. on the other hand, accurate operation may necessitate aplurality in excess of sixteen of said positions 1-16 and pins 245, p

The rheost-at 263 may be set in advance by the operator to adjust forany variable factors which may be determinable before a particular race.Thus, if the weather is clear and the track fast, said rheostat 263 maybe set so that the motor 221 will run a little faster than average.Similarly, an adjustment of rhecstat 263 may be made if it is known inadvance either that all of the horses 26 running a particular race arerelatively fast or relatively slow. Again, the operator may adjust therheostat 263, during the course of a race, should he find that, as eachof the positions 1-16 is reached, the camera 43 is consistently ahead ofor consistently behind its proper location. Or rheostat 263' may becompletely automaticallyadjusted by a mechanism (not shown') which ismotivated accordingto' which Oftlie flanges 24! Strikes pin 215 at eachposition 1-16; V

In any of the forms of my invention the several cams used in theelevational positioning mechanisms and the lens focusing mechanisms maybe removable and replaceable by others having' diiferent' curves andcharacteristics, so that the apparatus; if it is desired, may.befus'a'ble on different race courses 2| or with different camera andlens combinations. Also said cams may be made adjustable for the samepurpose.

A modified View finder H9 might also be substituted within the purviewof the present invention. For instance, the View finder might be no morethan a pair of sights, similar to sights, when could be so placed thatthe operator would keep them lined upon the head of the first horse. amatter (if fact, as sighting need be dan' only in azimuth, the sightingmeans might be no more than a pair of vertical wires;

one behind the other. It would be thus possible t6 eliminateez'ipensive' optical view finders as it would be only necessary to lineup the sight 6n the first fidrse and swing the camera 43horiz'o'ritally.

When the present invention is used to photograph 5 h'cr'se race, asillustrated in the drawmas and described" above, it will be understoodthat Sfie aiiiii collecting the film arid preparing it for' projectionwill be" an' important factor. particularly in connection with thediscovery and proof of fouls and newsreel use of the film; Such speedmay be'accomplished in various ways. For instance, the lengths offilm'used in loading the i{ar'ious" cameras 43' maybe no longer thanwill be needed for an individual race and this film may be loaded inmagazine form (not shown) so that it may be rapidly and easily loadedirito th'ecameras and removed therefrom;

A se the eritire'slaveinstallation in each sub siaiary' tower 44 may be:mounted upon a platform (not shown) which is" movable vertically, likean elevator, from its' operating position in thejcrows-nest 3'! owe to'lthe roans The vertical movements of "said sverar iatro'rmsniayccr'itroneu rom the" master statics so" that; peters-each race; they maybe raised toput the camera's 43 nch" operating positron and; after eachrace, they may be lqwered to allow rapid retrieval of the exposed filmby an" operator at ground level. Then after each race, opera t'or maymare" a" ra is s-c or the severar sl' At each" or said towers4 4 heweuldi remo eight correction positions about the course 2|; M H filni'magazine and remse'r't' a fresh magazine and eight pins 2l5 about theguide support" 21:3

for the succeeding race. The operator at the master station (in tower29) would lower the film magazine removed from the master camera 43 tothe ground by any suitable means so that it too could be picked up bythe operator on the ground. Said operator on the ground would then takeall of the magazines to a convenient laboratory upon the grounds forrapid processing by automatic machines. By such procedure, motionpictures of a race could be ready for projection within a very shorttime, undoubtedly before the running of the next race.

It is to be noted that if, in a particular race, a charge is made that afoul occurred at some particular locality about the race course 2!, itwould be possible to concentrate on the processing of the film from themaster camera 43 and only such slave camera 43 or cameras as covered bythat portion of the course 2|. Also as the numbered or lettered markers2H located about the course 2| would be visible in the processed film,it would be necessary to project only such portion of the film asincluded the place where the alleged foul occurred.

Again, a miniature automatic film processing unit (not shown) might beinstalled at each tower 29, 44. Then, as the film was exposed at eachtower, it would be fed automatically into the said processing unit.Then, after each race, the operator on the ground would pick up acompletely processed reel of film at each station which he could thentake to a projection room (located below the grandstand, in the judgesstand or any other suitable place) for immediate viewing.

As one of the slave stations could be located so as to be aligned withthe finish line of the course 2!, any question as to the winner of aparticular race and the placing of the succeeding horses could also beresolved by the used of the present invention.

It should be pointed out that the towers 29, 44 should preferably be astall as possible as this will allow the camera 43 to be sighted at amore downward angle of elevation. This is helpful in discerning fouls,as better visibility is had down between horses 26 running side by side.As several cameras 43 (at the master station and at one or more slavestations) will cover every bit of a race from start to finish,and assaid cameras will be directed at the horses 2 6 from different angles,no blind spots will occur. The photographic coverage will be so completethat contemplated fouls will be stillborn.

While I have herein described and upon the drawings shownexemplifications of my invention, it is to be understood that myinvention is not limited thereto but may comprehend other construction,details, arrangement of parts, and features without departing from thespirit thereof, and the scope of the claims shall govern the protectionof the present patent.

Havin thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. In an apparatus for recording images of a subject moving along apredetermined course, a master station, means at said master station fortracking said subject as it moves along said course, a slave station,means at said slave station orlentable in azimuth and elevation forrecording images of said subject as it moves along said course, remotecontrol means between said master and slave stations to automaticallyorient in azimuth the image recording means to follow in azimuth asubject moving along said course upon orientation of the tracking means,and means to automatically orient in elevation the image recording meansaccording to a predetermined relation to its orientation in azimuth tofollow in elevation said subject moving along said course, so that as asubject is tracked by the tracking means from the master station as itmoves along the course images of said subject may be simultaneouslyrecorded by the image recording means from the slave station, whereinthe remote control means include cam means having the same configurationas the course but on a miniature scale, cam follower means to representthe position of the subject as it moves along the course, a driverfinger representing the axis of sight of the tracking means but on thesame miniature scale and adapted to move said cam follower along saidcam means, said driver finger being rotatable about an axis positionedrelative to the cam means to represent to the same miniature scale thegeographical position of the master station relative to the course, arotatable shaft having a position relative to the cam means to representto the same miniature scale the geographical position of the slavestation relative to the course, a remote control arm coupling the camfollower and the shaft together and rotatable with said shaft about itsaxis, a servo system to transmit rotational movements of said shaft tothe image recording means.

2. In an apparatus for recording images of a subject moving along afixed path, a master station, tracking means at said master station totrack said subject in azimuth along said path, a slave station, an imagerecording device at said slave station, said slave station being locatedso that the image recording device may record images of the subjectalong a limited portion of said path, a servo system between the masterstation and the slave station, said servo system including a drivermotor and a synchronous driven motor, mechanical means to translaterotational movements in azimuth of the tracking means aforesaid intononuniform rotational movements of the driver motor bearing apredetermined relationship to the said movements of the tracking means,means to rotate in azimuth the image recording device at the slavestation synchronously with the movements of the driven motor aforesaid,said image recording device at the slave station being orientable inelevation, cam means at said slave station to control the elevation ofsaid image recording device as said device is rotated in azimuth,whereby a subject moving along the path aforesaid may be tracked by thetracking means at the master station and the image recording device maybe simultaneously automatically oriented in azimuth and elevation tofollow the subject over the portion of the path aforementioned so thatimages of said subject may be recorded simultaneously by the imagerecording device at the slave station.

3. In an apparatus for recording images of a subject moving along afixed path, a master station, tracking means at said master station totrack said subject in azimuth along said path, a plurality of slavestations, an image recording device at each of said slave stations, eachof said slave stations being locatedso that the image recording devicethereof may record images of the subject along a limited portion of saidpath, the said slave stations being so located that every portion of thepath is covered by at least one of the slave stations, a servo systembetween the master station and each of the slave stations, each suchservo system including a driver motor assume and? a synchronous drivenmotor, mechanical means to translate rotational movements in azimuth ofthe tracking means into a plurality of nonuniform rotational movementsof the driver motors respectively, each of said nonuniform movementsbearing a predetermined relationship to the said movements of thetracking means,

means to rotate in azimuth the image recording devices at the severalslave stations. sync-hro' nously with the'movements of the driven"motors aforesaid respectively, the image recording device at each slavestation being orientable in elevation, cam means at each of said slavestations to aforementioned so that images of said subject.

may be recorded by the image recording devices at the slave stationssimultaneously as the subject is tracked over the portions respectivelyof the course covered by said devices.

4. In an apparatus for taking motion pictures of horses racing about arace course, a master station, tracking means. at said master station totrack the horses in azimuth along said course, a slave station, a motionpicture camera at said slave station, said slave station being locatedso that the camera may take suitable motion pictures along a limitedportion of the course, a servo system between the master station and theslave station, said servo system including a driver motor and asynchronous driven motor, mechanical means to translate rotationalmovements in azimuth of the tracking means aforesaid into nonuniformrotational movements of the driver motor bearing a predeterminedrelationship to the-said movementsofthe tracking means, means to-rotatein azimuth the camera at the slave station synchronously with themovements of the driven motor aforesaid, said camera at the slavestation being orientable in elevation, cam means at said slave stationto control the elevation of said camera as said camera is rotated inazimuth, whereby horses racing along the race course may be tracked bythe tracking means at the master station and said camera may besimultaneously automatically oriented in azimuth and elevation to followthe horses over the portion of the course aforesaid so that photographsof said horses may be taken simultaneously by the camera at the slavestation.

5. In an apparatus for recording images of a subject moving along acourse of predetermined configuration, a master station, a slavestation, said master station including means orientable to trackmovements of said subject in azimuth, a cam plate provided with a camslot which duplicates in miniature the configuration of the courseaforesaid, a cam follower rod disposed at right angles to said plate andslidable along said cam slot, means coupling the tracking meansaforesaid to the said cam follower rod to move said cam follower rodalong said cam slot to duplicate in miniature movements along saidcourse of a subject being tracked by said tracking means aforesaid, arotatable shaft disposed at right angles to said cam plate and with itsaxis intersecting said plate at a point duplicating in miniature thegeographical location of said slave station relative to said course, aremote control arm disposed at right angles to said shaft, and rotatablewith said" shaft, and slidably coupled to said cam follower rod, saidslave station including" an image recording device orientable in azimuthand elevation, servo means to transmit rotation of the shaftaforesaidsynchronously to said image recording deviceto rotate it inazimuth, elevation cam means to cause the image recording device to beoriented in elevation as it is' oriented. in azimuth, said cam meanshaving a predetermined relationship to the azimuthal p0 sitions ofthesaid image recording device;

6. Iri an image recording apparatus for record'- ing images of a subjectmoving along a fixed course, a master station located at a fixed g'eographical position relative to' the course, a: slavestationlocated at afixed geographical position relative to the course, a tracking means atsaid master station and having" its axis of sight swingablein azimuth,means to vary the elevation of the axis of sight or said tracking meansto vary" the elevation according to a predetermined refs-- ti o'nship tothe azimuthal position thereof, cammeansduplicating" the fixed course inminiature, cam follower means adapted to follow said cam means, means tomove the cam follower means; along said cam means to' duplicate inminiature the point of intersection between the fix'ed' course and theline of s'igh-tof the tracking means", aremote control arm s'lidablycoupled to said camfollower means, said remote control arm being"swingable about an axis positioned relative" to the cam means toduplicate" in miniature the geographical position of the slave stationrelative to the" course, a servo system to transmit rotational movementsof said armabout such axis synchronously to said slave station, an imagerecording device rotatable in azimuth by said servo system insynchronism with the rotation of said remote position relative to thecam slots which duplicates in miniature the geographical position of themaster station relative to the course, a horizontal driver fingersecured to said driver shaft and rotatable with it and slidably coupledto the cam follower rod, an auxiliary driver finger similar to thedriver finger aforesaid geared to said driver shaft for synchronousrotational movements about the same axis as said driver finger, aplurality of driver servo units, said units respectively including alike plurality of vertical rotatable servo shafts Within the housing theaxes of which servo shafts respectively intersect the cam plates atpositions relative to the cam slots which duplicate in miniature thegeographical positions of the slave stations relative to the course, alike plurality of horizontal remote control arms secured respectively tosaid servo shafts and rotatable with said servo shafts and slidablycoupled to the cam follower rod at different vertical levels.

8. In an image recording apparatus for record ing images of horsesrunning about a substantially oval race course, a. master stationlocated substantially in the center of said course, a plurality of slavestations located adjacent to the course, the master station including atower, sighting means in said tower, said sighting means being rotatablein azimuth and in elevation, elevation cam means to control theelevational position of said sighting means according to a predeterminedrelationship between the azimuthal and elevational positions of saidsighting means so as to keep said means sighted at the course as it isrotated in azimuth, mechanical means to translate the rotationalmovements in azimuth of the sighting means into a plurality oinonuniform movements, each having a predetermined relationship thereto,servo means to translate said nonuniform movements respectively to saidslave stations, each servo means including a driver servo motor at themaster station and a driven servo motor at one of the slave stations,the said driver motors being rotated respectively according to thenonuniform movements aforesaid, each slave station including a tower,image recording means in said tower, said image recording means beingrotatable in azimuth and elevation, said image recording means beingrotated in azimuth in synchronism with the driven servo motor at saidslave station, slave elevation cam means at each slave station tocontrol the elevational position of the image recording means accordingto a predetermined relationship between the azimuthal and elevationalpositions of said image recording means so as to keep it directed at thecourse as it is rotated in azimuth.

9. In an apparatus for recording images of a subject moving along apredetermined course, a master station, an image recording device atsaid master station, tracking means for said image recording device fortracking the subject as it moves along said course so that the imagerecording device may record images of said subject, a slave station, animage recording device at said slave station for recording images ofsaid subject as it moves along a portion of said course, remote controlmeans to orient the image recording device at the slave station tofollow the moving subject along said portion of said coursesimultaneously as it is followed along said portion by the imagerecording device at the master station, said remote control meansincluding mechanical means to translate rotational movements of theimage recording device at the master station into nonuniform rotationalmovements according to a predetermined relationship with said rotationalmovements of the image. recording device at the master station and alsoservo means for rotating the image recording device at the slave stationsynchronously with said nonuniform rotational movements, each of saidimage recording devices being orientable in elevation and being providedWith'elevation adjusting means to automatically vary its elevationaccording to a predetermined relationship to its azimuthal position.

MAX J. WEISFELDT.

REFERENCES CITED The following referencesare of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 946,800 Groff Jan. 18, 19101,167,247 Anderson Jan. 4, 1916 1,463,446 Snowden July 31, 19231,602,499 Meinecke Oct. 12, 1926 1,692,364 Akemann Nov. 20, 19281,747,664 Droitcour Feb. '18, 1930 1,856,432 Rudolph et a1 May 3, 19321,982,322 Ries et al Nov. 27, 1934 2,306,862 Bown Dec. 29, 19422,348,841 Oswald May 16, 1944 2,382,616 Del Riccio Aug. 14, 19452,408,528 Nassour Oct. 1, 1946 2,420,197 Rosenthal May 6, 1947 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 341,508 France June 11, 1904 321,288 GreatBritain Nov. 7, 1929 France July 31. 1933

